NCSL Capitol Forum December 8–11 | Washington, D.C. • Learn the latest on important state-federal issues. • Be a voice <strong>for</strong> your state on Lobby Day on Capitol Hill. • Connect with legislative colleagues from across the nation. REGISTER NOW AT NCSL.ORG/FORUM
Karl Aro THE FINAL WORD NCSL Staff Chair Karl Aro, NCSL’s new staff chair, has 36 years of experience as a bill drafter, research analyst and a director with Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services. He was born in Brooklyn, raised in New Jersey and earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from Monmouth University in New Jersey and a master’s in public administration from the University of Maryland. He has worked in several policy areas including health, workers’ compensation, environment, elections, but is best known <strong>for</strong> his work in redistricting and reapportionment. What life lessons have you learned working in a legislature <strong>for</strong> 36 years? What appears to be easy isn’t. It’s difficult to achieve compromise. It’s hard to communicate clearly. It’s challenging to get your ideas or the in<strong>for</strong>mation needed out there. Nothing is simple. How has legislative service evolved? Computerization has changed the landscape dramatically. The fact that we can do so much more, so much more quickly has sometimes created unrealistic time expectations. It still takes a human mind to figure out the best way to draft a bill, <strong>for</strong> example, or to analyze a particular problem and to check the facts. Where do you look <strong>for</strong> inspiration? Music and nature. I can always find something of value in lyrics. One of the songs that influenced me early on was John Lennon’s “Imagine,” but there’s so much good stuff out there. I’m a big fan of a band called Twenty One Pilots. I also find inspiration in the beauty of our natural world by just reflecting on the wonder of it all. What advice would you give to new staff? The greatest asset you have is your credibility. Stay organized, be honest and make sure your work is on time and accurate. And if you don’t know an answer, don’t fake it; there are way too many people out there who know the answers. Say “I don’t know, but I will find out” and then find the answer—fast. What are your priorities as NCSL staff chair? We need to continue to provide value-added, useful in<strong>for</strong>mation and reliable resources, primarily through electronic media. We have to stay current. But even though we can do a lot of work through electronic media, we shouldn’t do it at the cost of face-to-face, personalcontact opportunities. With so many ways available to reach legislators—through Facebook or Twitter or whatever—the challenge becomes distinguishing ourselves, making sure our members understand that we are the most reliable source. What do legislative staff wish lawmakers understood? From a nonpartisan staff perspective, that we always make our best professional ef<strong>for</strong>t. We care about the legislative institution. We want to help lawmakers make good decisions by giving them the in<strong>for</strong>mation they need. We don’t have a dog in the hunt. I just wish they all understood that as fully as I think they ought. I think most do. Some don’t. Jane Carroll Andrade, a contributing editor to the magazine, conducted this interview. How would your staff describe you? I hope they would describe me as fair, supportive and caring. I try to be available to them, and I look <strong>for</strong> ways to support that work-life balance everybody’s looking <strong>for</strong>. When we’re not in session we allow people to telework and equip them to do that. As long as staff are available during the day and productivity doesn’t suffer, I like to give them as much flexibility as I can. I think it makes <strong>for</strong> much happier and more loyal employees. Which books are on your nightstand? “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops,” by George Carlin, and “I Am America (And So Can You!),” by Stephen Colbert. I just finished reading “Hellhound on His Trail,” by Hampton Sides, about James Earl Ray and the stalking of Martin Luther King Jr. It’s an incredible story. What might surprise people to find out about you? I’ve worked in a patio umbrella factory and was an exterminator. I know how to do a termite job. I come from a blue-collar background, and know what it’s like, as they say, to work <strong>for</strong> a living. Do you have any final words you’d like to share? Working <strong>for</strong> a legislature has been an incredible experience. Being part of this ongoing pageant of representative democracy and being able to contribute to it in some way has been a great privilege. STATE LEGISLATURES 31 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
Change language